Less than a decade ago, McLaren Automotive as a carmaker didn't exist. The company most famously associated with Formula 1 and the McLaren F1 hypercar only collaborated with other carmakers on special projects. In only a few years, the company has produced 22 unique models in the process of setting a new sales record for 2018 of 4,863 cars, McLaren as a supercar company is here to stay.
Each McLaren road car is a work of art, packed with powerful engines, and yet, the aftermarket tuners cannot resist "improving" the breed, producing some of the sickest McLaren's we've ever seen.
10 Novitec McLaren GT - Business As Usual
Hailed as the company's first attempt to build a grand tourer does not seem to be different from the rest of the range. Continued use of McLaren's carbon-fiber monocoque II platform and M840T engine makes the GT near identical to the 720s design, but the GT makes use of smaller turbochargers to produce 620hp. McLaren's GT is a more practical and luxurious sports car with a little less performance.
Novitec takes the standard McLaren GT, adding various custom-made carbon-fiber accessories giving the GT a discreet makeover. There is nothing discreet about the engine modifications though. Novitec's stage 3 ECU combined with a free-flowing exhaust unleashes 707hp, similar to that of the 720S.
9 Gemballa 12C GT - Subtly Updated
McLaren Automotive went from a limited-production hypercar manufacturer to a supercar manufacturer when they released the 12C in 2011. Representing the engineering expertise of the brand the 12C the first production car entirely built by the UK-based automobile company. Built on a tailor-made carbon fiber chassis equipped with a twin-turbo 3.8-liter V8 producing 592hp giving the McLaren 12C unparalleled performance.
Despite receiving positive reviews for its performance, the 12C has often been described as too clinical when compared to other supercars, leaving room for improvement. Gemballa is never afraid to modify the best supercars has the answer, updating the 12C with a modified carbon fiber nose, side skirts, and a rear splitter complimenting the GForged-one alloy wheels.
8 Hennessey 720S - Simple Upgrades Release More Power
Unveiled in 2017 720S being a fresh design delivers higher performance than previous models. With the help of a new carbon fiber tub and a modified engine, the 720S became the company's fastest production model. Engine revisions resulting in the new M840T power unit, a twin-turbocharged 4-liter produced 710hp.
The 720S is already an incredibly fast car exceeding 212mph, which hasn't stopped one of the most prolific tuners from adding more power. Hennessey Performance equips the McLaren with high-throughput air filters, a customized ECU and, modified exhaust boosting output to 900hp.
7 MSO Senna GTR - Special Services For The Ultimate Track Car
The Senna exists purely to achieve the best lap times, based on the company's 720S stripped of excess weight and using a modified power unit. McLaren's in house developed carbon-fiber Monocoque II platform forms the basis for the Senna, weight-saving being the ultimate goal resulted in a curb weight of 3029lbs.
Who better than McLaren themselves to deliver the ultimate car with personalized customization, each McLaren MSO can be adapted to an individual specification, the only limitations being financial.
6 Liberty Walk 650S - Winder And More Aggressive
Wearing a P1-style nose the 650S is essentially a revised 12C that appeared in 2014. McLaren engineers focusing their efforts on chassis tuning resulted in sharper handling, other areas received updates also. Minor cosmetic changes were accompanied by a re-worked 3.8-liter engine delivering 641hp
Increasing the visual appeal of the McLaren to another level, Liberty Walks customized widebody kit adds presence to the 650S. Custom offset wheels give the impression of a wider track hidden under the flared arches of LBW's kit adding to the 650S aggressive stance, the rear wing inspired by the car P1-GTR completes the package.
5 Mansory 12C - The Complete Upgrade Package
Following the mighty McLaren F1, many gearheads felt the 12C was a let down lacking both visual drama and the wonderful naturally aspirated soundtrack. Despite that, the 12C is an excellent car and can be improved with the help of Mansory, the best one-stop-shop McLaren tuners.
Mansory offers custom finishes to all areas of the 12C inside and out, customized carbon-fiber upgrades adding wow factor to Woking's cheapest supercar. Performance junkies don't need to worry the 3.8-liter engine gets updated also, high performance exhausts helping to increase power output to 670hp.
4 FAB Design VAYU GTR - We'll Take The Black And Red Paint Please
We have to admit Vayu's black and red paint scheme looks sick, giving the 650S a hint of classic Batmobile that even Bruce Wayne would approve of. Wearing FAB designs custom body kit, no part of the 650s remains unchanged, adding a rear wing and roof-mounted air scoop gives the 650S the look it needed to have from the factory.
Swiss-based FAB designs originally crated the Vayu GTR for McLaren's 650S, however, the car remained largely unchanged from the 12C making the conversion suitable for older McLaren sports cars.
3 Prior Design 570S - GT4 Themed Softer Sports Car
Amusingly McLaren designed the 570S as a more practical supercar that owners could use daily, softening the ride while adding more luxurious cabin trim levels. The reality is the 570S makes do with just 562hp from its twin-turbocharged V8 as a result owners will only see a maximum top speed. If McLaren was serious about 570S being a softer sports car then why build the track-focused GT4 version?
The same GT4-look, but without the comprising ride, is available from Prior Design, their kit faithfully recreates the track based look for any suitable 570/540 specification McLaren.
2 Lanzante P1-GTR-18 - Classic Gulf Livery Makes A Return
The initial P1 hypercar allocation of 375 cars ended in 2015, Mclaren announcing shortly afterward that existing P1 owners would be eligible to buy one of the even rarer P1-GTR models of which only 58 would be built. Built with the same carbon fiber chassis, the P1 GT-R has undergone several major updates on the production car, including the Le Mans-style aerodynamic package including the GTR rear spoiler.
Crucially GTR specification cars received more power, the hybrid power unit produced 986hp, although it is not evident if the gains are from the ICE or its associated electric motor. Anyone with a big bank balance who missed the chance to seize the P1-GTR can rest easily, Lanzante is producing a short series of GTR's in Gulf livery.
1 TopCar 720s Fury - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
McLaren first pioneered the use of carbon-fiber in their F1 cars during the 1980s, weight and strength benefits over conventional materials handed the team a huge performance advantage. The same construction process can now be found in McLaren road cars, although most production models hide the ultra-lightweight material under glossy paint finishes.
As unlikely as it seems, Russian-based TopCar aims to reverse the trend has created the Fury package for Mclaren's 720S. Shamelessly adorning the standard car with 50 pieces of custom unpainted carbon-fiber trim reveals the unique weave pattern, natural gray tones adding to the beauty of the Fury.